Breaking News: President Biden Makes History with Executive Order Enforcing Sanctions on Israel

The Biden administration has announced new financial sanctions on Israeli settlers who have been involved in violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The executive order, which is considered a significant step by any U.S. administration on the issue, aims to address the escalating settler violence and its impact on the region and U.S. personnel and interests. The order applies to any foreign individual involved in violence against Palestinian civilians, including intimidation, terror, and property damage and seizure. It can also target Israeli leaders or government officials engaged in such violence.

While only four Israeli settlers have been targeted in the initial round of sanctions, the order has a wider scope. The move has been praised by experts as a potentially powerful tool in pressuring Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. However, far-right ministers in the Israeli government have criticized the sanctions, with some dismissing the notion of settler violence as an “anti-Semitic lie.”

The impact of the executive order will depend on how the Biden administration uses it and whom it targets. The freezing of U.S.-based assets and financial transactions, as well as the inability to receive financial support, can have significant consequences for individuals on the sanctions list. The effectiveness of the order will also rely on the number and identity of individuals included.

Settler violence in the West Bank has been a long-standing issue, but it has intensified during the war in Gaza. Since October 7, there have been nearly 500 settler attacks on Palestinian civilians, according to the U.N.’s humanitarian agency, accounting for over a third of the total settler attacks recorded in 2023.

The timing of the executive order may be seen as a response to this surge in violence, but some observers also note potential political motivations. President Biden’s visit to Michigan coincided with the announcement, and his support among the state’s Arab American population has declined due to his handling of the Gaza war. The executive order could be an attempt to address this and improve Biden’s standing among Arab Americans.

While the order is seen as a positive step, experts argue that it should have been taken much earlier. They also emphasize that it should be accompanied by efforts to address the larger issue of the ongoing war in Gaza, which is a significant concern for many. The executive order can be seen as part of Biden’s vision for the Middle East and an indication of possible changes in the U.S.-led peace process, including consequences for Israeli violence against Palestinians.